Water or fluid gaging tube.



No. 809,471. PATENI'ED JAN. 9, 1906.

G. 'I'. SEABURY. WATER 0R FLUID GAGING TUBE.

APPLICATION FILED PEBHI, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

llllpmnll l f jHJUINIIII A Ewa/76h71- N0. 809,471. PATBN'I'ED JAN. 9,1906.

G. T. SEABURY.

WATER 0R FLUID GAGING TUBE.

APPLICATION PIL-ED FEB. 7, 1905. l

,muy Mmmm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1906.

Application filed February 7., 1905. Serial No. 244,632.

To ZIZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GORHAM T. SEABURY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Cheyenne, in the county of Laramie and State ofWyoming, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water orFluid Graging Tubes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in water-gages for steam andhot-water boilers, liquid-receivers, oil-cups, lubricators, and for allkinds of fluid-holding receptacles that it is desired to attach adepth-indicating gage to; and the objects of my invention are, first, toprovide a practically indestructible and perfectly safe water-gage thatis non-crackable and non-breakable from the heat or eXpansive tension ofsteam or uids; second, to prol vide a water-tube gage that is providedwith a plurality of independent transparent light and sight inlet andeyelet-windows that are adapted to indicate the height of the uid withinthe tube; third, to provide awatertube gage that is provided with aplurality of independent renewablelight and sight inlets and eyeletsthat are of such form and size that they are practically unbreakableby-internal heat and the commonly-used expansive pressure ofsteam-boilers and that are arranged in such a manner that in case one ortwo or more of the sight-inlets are broken the escape of steam or liquidis confined to a small aperture; fourth, Lo provide a water-tube gagehaving a hood arranged to stand normally open, but arranged to be closedaround the tube when a crack or break occurs in an eyelet that preventssteam or hot water from escaping from it; fifth, to provide a water-tubegage that is made in two parts or halves that are detachably securedtogether; sixth, to provide a water-tube gage that is made of twohalf-tubes that are arranged to be clamped together and in which eitherone or both halves are provided with a plurality 'of independentsight-inlet eyelets arranged in any predetermined order, and, seventh,to provide aperfectly safe, durable, and economical watertube gage thesight -indicating eyelets of which can be quickly and easily repairedwithout removing the tubes from the boiler.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvedwater-tube gage operatively attached to a fragment ,of a boiler. Fig. 2is a front elevation thereof. Fig-3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a front view of the two halves of the hood foldedand buttoned together. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the. water-tube andshows a sight-inlet eyelet of slightly-different arrangement from thatshown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the cap used on thesight-inlet shown in Fig. 8. Fig. -illustrates my tube arranged andadapted for use as an oil or lubricator cup. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectionof a modified form of tube. Fig. 9 is a side view of a fragment of thetube shown in Fig. 8, and Fig. l() is a cross-section of several formsof tubes I could use for gage-tubes.

Similar gures ofreference refer to similar parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l designates a tube of metal orany other suitable non-transparent material. I preferably make myimproved tube out of brass or aluminium, although copper or alloyedmetals may be used, if desired.

My improved water or other fluid indicating tubes may be made of anyform of crosssection, either round, triangular,hexagonal,or of anypolygonal form; but I preferably use a square tube having short roundportions 2 and 3 at each end, which are made of the same diameter as theglass water-tube gages in common use. I also make the tubes of anylength and also of the same length as the commonly-used water-tubes inorder that they can be placed in the water-tube gagefixtures oflocomotives, stationary marine boilers, and other fluid-receptacles inuse.

In the drawings, the numeral 4t designates a fragment of the end of aboiler. A water-gage valve 5 is connected to the boiler in a wellknownmanner. This valve is provided with a dependingwater-tube-receiving.stuffingboX, which comprises the nipple member 6and the gland-nut 7, the construction of which is well known. Below thevalve 5 a similar watergage valve 8 is secured to the boiler, which isalso provided with an upward-projecting stuflng-box, nipple member 9.and with a gland-nut 10, which is threaded to the nipple. The gland-nutsand nipples of both of these valves are arranged to receive the IOO TIO

V opposite round terminal end portions of my improved tube and arearranged on all boilers to receive the common size and lengths of glasswater-tubes. A rubber packing-ring is placed on the ends of the tube andin the glandnut and is secured by the nut against the end of the nippleof the valves and packs the connection between the tube and the valvesagainst leakage. The rubber packing-ring and the interior of thegland-nut and valves are not shown, as their construction is well knownand they do not form any part of my invention. Both of the valves areprovided with disk plates 11, to which the opposite ends of fourguard-rods 12, 1 3, 14, and 15 are secured. These guard-rods extend fromone plate to the other. They are positioned at a short distance from thetube and at substantially equal distances apart, and where a square tubeis used, as illustrated, they are preferably placed opposite itsfour-corners. I preferably use four of these guide-rods; but, ifdesired, the two front rods may be dispensed with. The tube is providedwith one or two or three or four rows of light and sight inlet eyeletsor windows 16, which are preferably arranged in Vertical rows on eitherone or two or three or four sides of the tubes. For locomotive use Ipreferably place a row on each of the sides of the tube, as shown inFig. 2, this arrangement permitting the engineer of the cab to see onerow of eyelets and the fireman to see the opposite row of eyelets. Theselight and sight eyelet-windows may be made of any suitable transparentmaterial, such as .mica or glass, and they each consist of smallindependent pieces of glass or mica 17 or other suitable transparentmaterial, that are positioned and removably connected to the tube atpredetermined distances apart and in any desired order and by anysuitable means. I preferably make these sight-inlet windows of smallround disks of glass of sufHcient thickness to withstand the highestheat and pressure they are likely to ever be subjected to. My inventioncontemplates any means for removably securing these glass disks in andto the tube; but I preferably use a thimble cornprising a nipple 19,having a removable cap 20, or one or two modifications of thisarrangement. These thimbles are removably attached to the tube inpreferably the following manner: I form a row of threaded holes 21 inone or more sides of the tube, at equal distances apart, and preferablyspace them just far enough apart to permit the caps and the nipples ofthe thimbles to stand close together withouttouching one another,although, if desired, they may be spaced any desired distance apart.Where but two rows of eyelets are used, I preferably place them directlyopposite each other, as shown in Fig. 3. In each of the threaded holes21 I screw one end of a threaded nipple 19. (See Fig. 3.) The oppositeend of this nipple is also threaded, and

a cap 2O is interiorly threaded to screw onto it. A rubber washer 22rests against the outer end of the nipple, and the glass disk 17 restson the washer, and the glass and washer are clamped to the end of thenipple by screwing the cap against them. An aperture 23 is made throughthe top of the cap, which is large enough to expose all but a narrowedge portion of the glass to View. This arrangement permits the glassdisk to be easily and quickly removed should one crack or break, and anew one can be replaced in a minute or two without removing the nipplefrom the tube.

In Fig. 5 I illustrate a slight modification of the cap-and-nipplethimble shown in Fig. 3. In this modification the cap and nipple aremade in one integral thimble member, and the nipple portion of thethimble is threaded and screws into the threaded holes of the tube. Thecap end of the thimble comprises an enlarged annulet member 24, in thetop of which a recess 25 is formed, in which the glass is placed. Thetop edge of the cap is then spun over the glass, thus securing the glasspermanently to the thimble. In this arrangement if a glass cracks orbreaks it is necessary to remove the nipple and replaceit by one havinga perfect glass in it.

In Fig. 8 I illustrate another modification of the means for securingthe glass disks to the tube. In this View a row of holes 26, each ofwhich is large-enough to receive loosely a glass disk, is first drilledinto the shell of the tube for a short distance, and a smaller hole 27is then drilled from the bottom of the holes 26 through the shell of thetube. The interiors of the larger holes are then threaded and theshoulders between the two holes are counterbored to form a flatshoulder. Rubber washers are then placed in the large holes against theshoulders, and the glass disks are then placed in the holes against thewasher. A cylindrical thimble 28, which is provided with an enlargedannulet or bead in its outer end, is then threaded into the hole and isscrewed against the glass disk, thus removably securing it to the tube.The annulets or bead portion of the cap or outer ends of all of thesethimbles are knurled or serrated to provide a frictional surface for thefingers, or, if desired,this enlarged annulet or band may be made of apolygonal or any other form adapted to receive a wrench.

In Fig. 8 I illustrate a tube constructed in two halves or parts whichare arranged and adapted to be secured` together. My inventioncontemplates water or fluid gage tubes made up of separate parts andsecured together by any suitable means. I preferably make this dividedtube in two equal halftubes and provided in their meeting edges withtongues and grooves which t one within the other. Thus the edges of thehalf 29 are provided with tongues 30 and the half 31 is provided withgrooves 32, and the tongue IOO IIO

IIS

lits within the groove and keys the two halves in alinement, as well asincreasing the stability and unity of the joint. The side edges of thetwo halves are provided with lugs 33, which are positioned to registeropposite each other. These lugs are provided with suitable apertures inwhich bolts or screws are inserted to clamp the two halves together. Asuitable packing 34 is preferably placed between the meeting edges ofthe two halves to insure a perfectly tight joint; but two rows ofsight-inlet eyelets are placed on this form of tube, one row on eachhalf opposite each other, and I preferably use the form of eyeletdescribed in this modification for this built tube, as the form of thistube necessitates a thicker shell in order to secure the desiredstiffness in the complete tube.

In Fig. 7 I illustrate a short length of my improved fluid-gaging tubewhich is adapted for use as an oil-cup, any suitable cap and base beingused therewith. The construction of these tubes for use as oil-cups or`lubricators is the same as when used for water or other iuids; but whenthey are to be used for oil-cups they are made shorter and are madelarger in diameter.

One of the new and novel features of my invention is to prevent scaldingof the engineer or fireman in case one or more of the eyelets shouldblow or break out. I preferably use for this purpose a hood, which Ihinge in any suitable manner, adjacent to the tube in such a manner thatit will swing and fold around the tube, and thus inclose the escapingsteam and hot Water within the hood until the engineer can close thetubes valves. My invention contemplates any means for operativelyattaching and operating the hood; but I preferably carry out thisfeature of my invention in the following manner: To each of the two rearguard-rods I hinge one side edge of two segmentally-curved sheets ofmetal or other suitable material 35 and 36, the guard-rods passingloosely through hingeeyes 37, formed on the side edge of each hoodplate.These hood-segments are made to meet in front of the gage and slightlyoverlap each other, and lugs 38 are formed on one side plate andapertures 39 are formed on the opposite hood-plate that receives looselythe lugs of the opposite plate and locks the two together. A step 40 isalso formed in one side plate, against which the edge of the other sideplate strikes when the two half-hoods are closed together. The twohood-plates are thus closed around the sides and front of the gage, thusefectually inclosing the escaping steam. This hood is adapted to beclosed by hand, which can be safely done without danger of theattendants being burned by escaping steam .or hot water, which escapesin case an eyelet breaks at right angles to the axis of the tube insteadof up and down, as when aglass tube breaks. Consequently it is an easymatter for the engineer or fireman to close the hood by catching hold ofits plates above the broken eyelet. These hood-plates, however, can bevery easily arranged to be closed by a cord mounted on grooved pulleysthat are positioned to lead the cord to some convenient point away fromthe boiler. Thus both the engineer and fireman of a locomotive couldhave a cord attached to the plates in an operative manner and couldarrange this cord to extend along the top of the cab and down withineasy reach of their sitting positions and in case of the breakage of aneyelet could instantly close the hood and then afterward close thevalves without danger of being burned. Normally these half-hoods standswung back, as shown in Fig. 3, and if but one row of eyelets is placedin a tube only one hood-plate need be used.

The operation of my improved Huid-tube gage is as follows: The water,oil, or other fluid of the boiler, tank, receiver, or receptacle, towhich the tube is operatively attached, rises in the tube the same as inan ordinary glass water-gaging' tube and its height in the tube isplainly seen in the sight or light inlet eyelets. Especially is thewater or other iiuid very plainly seen when a row of eyelets is placed on either two, three, or four sides of a tube, as light is then admittedto the interior of the tube.

My invention is simple, practically indestructible, and perfectly safeand the eyelets are very easily and quickly repaired at trifling expenseand without removing the tube.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

l. In a water or fluid gaging tube, a tube of any suitablenon-transparent material, provided with a plurality of aperturesarranged in any predetermined order along the length of said tube; anipple threaded to each aperture; a transparent disk seated in saidnipple; and a ring-shaped cap arranged to removably secure saidtransparent disk to said nipple.

2. In a water or iiuid gaging tube, the combination of a metal tubeadapted to watergage-valve ttings, and provided with a plurality ofthreaded apertures arranged in vertical rows along its length, with aplurality of nipples removably threaded to said apertures; a cap-ringthreaded to the outer end of said nipple; and a glass disk arranged tobe clamped between said cap-ring and said nipple.

3. In a water or fiuid gaging tube, the combination of a tube, throughits operative gaging body portion, having round end portions, adapted tobe operatively mounted in watergage valves, and provided with aplurality of independent and renewable light -and sight inleteyelet-windows arranged to admit light to the interior of said tube, andarranged along the length of said tube, said windows comprising nipplesthreaded to said tube, a cap- IIO ring threaded to each of said nipples,a pliable Washer in said cap-ring, and a glass disk secured between saidnipple and washer and said cap-ring.

4:. In a water or fluid gaging tube. a tube adapted to be connected toWater-gage-valve fittings provided with guard-rods; a pair of curvedplates loosely hinged to said guardrods, and arranged to fold over saidtube.

5. In a water or fluid gaging tube, the oombination of the tubeoperatively connected to water-gage fittings, provided with guard-rods,and provided with a plurality of light and sight inlet eyelet-windows,with a hood comprising two curved plates each oi which is hinged to oneoi' said guard-rods and arranged to swing and overlappingly fold oversaid tube; means including lugs for locking said hood-plates in a foldedposition.

6. In a Water or Huid gage, the combination with the gaging-tube, thevalve-fittings, the guard-rod plates, and the guard-rods, with a hoodarranged to fold over said tube and oomprising a pair of curved plates,one of each of which is pivotally hinged to a guard-rod, to swing andfold together around said tube; an outward-curved lip on the free edgeof one of said plates, provided with a stepped shoulder; apertures insaid lip, and lugs on the edge of the opposite plate, adapted to entersaid apertures, when said plates are folded over said tube, and looksaid plates together.

7. In a water or iiuid gaging tube, an operative gaging-tube, providedwith guard-rods and one or more curved plates pivotally oonnected tosaid guard-rods and arranged to be folded around said tube.

In testimony whereofI aliiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GORHAM T. SEABURY.

I/Vitnesses:

Gr. SARGENT ELLIOTT, Bnssn THOMPSON.

